Thursday, May 20, 2004

100 years ago: Columnist TT was appalled that the sturdy beggar must now "lower his flag to the petitioning pauper," who finds life in the Workhouse monotonous, and regards his rights as infringed upon by the stoppage of the customary half-holiday. The petitioners to the Guardians at Scarborough were not old men, as the old men have their half day out, but young ones who "honour the institution with their patronage," and were aggrieved that they could not go out and visit their friends as they list. It was hard upon them, they said, that they cannot observe these little customs of society without having first to sacrifice their quarters and their rations. TT noted that the argument of the possibility of their finding work when out for the afternoon was given as a subsidiary one, the burden of their plaint being the monotony of life inside, and the deprivation of social intercourse as citizens of a great and glorious country.

50 years ago: An appeal for "men with lusty voices" went out, telling them "your city needs you!" to take the parts of street criers in the Festival. During the Festival of Britain costumed characters wandered around the streets of York with their wares. There would be "repeat performances" this year, but at the moment, although there are plenty of willing girls and women, there was a shortage of men. Rehearsals were beginning shortly, and men of any age who were interested were invited to get in touch with the milliner who was organising it. The criers would be in the city streets on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays of each week during the festival and historical incidents would be re-enacted in St Helen's Square. This year, too, when a charming young woman asked someone to buy her oranges, or another crier offered sweet lavender, the wares would be for sale rather than just for show. The organisers were planning to arrange for the goods to be sold as far as they can, with even young lambs possibly being on offer - though they would be toy ones.

10 years ago: York City Football Club supporters who couldn't get tickets for the all-ticket second leg play-off at Stockport were able to watch the game after all, at the Odeon Cinema in Blossom Street, York. A total of 800 tickets costing £6.50 each, the same price as the admission fee on Stockport's terraces, were sold at the cinema, with people queuing from early morning on the day to obtain them.

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, May 20, 2004